<p>i'm a little confused. does getting an invitation for the honors program (the letter that tells you to write one of the essays) guarantee that you're getting into the honors program? Or is there another round of sort of picking people? is the essay simply their way of seeing if you really want to do it or not?</p>
<p>no...receiving the essay request letter doesn't guarantee you'll get into the honors program. It means you're nominated for it (you can even nominate yourself by sending them an email). I'm not sure what the purpose of the essay is, but it's not in any way required...that is, you can get into the honors program without it.</p>